eobertbaab



(No Model.) i

N. 11.13.1111., G. J. 81,- I. R. 00B.

FIRE ESCAPE. 110.293.215. Patented P eb. 12, 1884.

Inv/e n-ars;

s Unirse STATES PATENI y @rrrcn' `N. ROBERT DAAR, CALVIN J.` COE, AND IRA Ylt. COE, OF LOVVILLE, N. Y.

`FlFui-Escalera.

sPncIrIcArIon` foi-ming part ofLetters ratenelvaeeaal,dated February 12, 1884.

Application filed May 23, 1883. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom it 77ml/ concern:

Beit known that we, N. ROBERT B LimCAL- Y VIN J. Con, and Inn It. Con, all of Lowville,

Lewis county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.4

Our invention relates to that class of fire-escapes in which a ladder or rope or other flexible escape appliance is wound upon a rcel ready for extension in case rof re5'and it consists of ineans,'fully described hereinafter,wherebythe .ladder may be automatically unwound by manipulations from any of the rooms of a dwelling, whereby the unwinding may be regulated, and whereby, after the ladder is no 4longer required, it may be readily wound upon the reel.

, In'the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a dwelling provided with a lire-escape apparatus illustrating our improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in part section, of the reeling apparatus.

The reeling apparatus A consists of a suitable frame, B, a reel, C, turning in bearings therein and a worm, D, gearing with a toothed wheel, a, upon the reel, capable of being carried to and from the latter. This adjustment of the worm may be effected in different ways,- as shown. The dworin-shaft Z) is mounted in a frame, E, pivoted at gc to the frame B, and is provided with a handle, c, whereby, when the frame E is raised, the worni may be turned to4 revolve the reel and wind upon `it a suitable rope or chain ladder, F, or knotted ropes, or any other ilexible escape device. By lowering the frame E the worm is carried away from the reel, which can then rota-te freely.

To the end of the` ladder F is connected a heavy weight, G, which, when the reel is Ieleased, will draw upon the ladder with suiiicient force to carry the same over frictionrollers e and unwind itfrom the reel. This weight is preferably fitted to an opening, y, in the cornice, and is of such asha'pe that when in place it will confornuto the outline of the cornice, completely filling the said opening.

. To prevent the ladder from unreeling too rapidly the reel-shaft is provided with a disk, d, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2,) against which a shoe, g, upon a brake-lever, H, is caused to bear by the action of a spring, j.

To enable the occupant of a room to release cal.

the reel whenever the ladder is required, we

provide appliances whereby the worin D may A be lowered from one or more lof the rooms. Such appliances may be electrical or mechanim, from one of which extends outward the upy j per end of the rope h, so that upon pulling As shown, a cord orcable, It, extendingupon the latter the toggle-arms are brought at an angle to each other, allowing the frame E to fall. glo-arms are brought with their inner joints slightly back of the center, so as to lock the frame E in its position. s

Itis advisable to place one of the rcel-operating devices above each vertical row of wi ndows, or between two rows of windows, eX- tending the cords or cables li through the contiguous vertical series of rooms. It is desirable, however, that all the apparatus should be under the control of the clerk or attendant. W'e therefore provide a supplemental device, whereby all the worms D may be caused to drop by operating from a single point. As shown, a shaft, p, extends adjacent to all the apparatus, and is provided with arms s,ex tending over the branches m, and to an arm, n, uphon said shaft is connected a cord, f, which extends to the operators desk or other point.

The ladder F is made longer than the distance between the reel and .the surface of the street, in order that it may be drawn outward and away from, the side of the house, so that after a partyhastaken a position upon the ladder the latter `inay be carried away from.

names or obstructions at a lower point.

It will be seen that the weight G not only serves to automatically unreel the ladder, but is also arneans of securing its lower ends fixedly to some object, to insure the degree of steadiness so essential in such cases. s Any weight above the cornice is liable to be caught and the apparatusrendered inopera- Vhen the branch m is raised, the togi tive. A weight below the cornice is dislignr-` ing. By making an opening in the cornice and tting the weight thereto both dii'liculties are avoided. cornice of the building, or parties could not escape from the roof.

Without limiting ourselves to the precise devices herein set forth, We claiml. The combination ofthe reel, rope ladder, Worm D, adapted to a toothed Wheel upon the reel-shaft, frame E, carrying the Worm, and

appliances for adjusting the frame, ysubstantially as specified.

2. The combination of the worm-frame E, appliances for adjusting the same, operatingcords extending therefrom to rooms in the building, and a supplemental operating device extending to a point accessible to the clerk or attendant, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the frame'B, reel,

The ladder must extend to the Witnesses:

OHARLEs M. MOORE, JIMns E. BRUCE. 

